ou say, to have the
King's representative in my house, and our family has received greater
personages than Mr. Braddock. But he comes to take one of my sons away
from me. Who knows whether my boy will return, or how? I dreamed of him
last night as wounded, and quite white, with blood streaming from his
side. I would not be so ill-mannered as to let my grief be visible
before the gentlemen; but, my good Mrs. Justice, who has parted with
children, and who has a mother's heart of her own, would like me none
the better, if mine were very easy this evening."

The ladies administered such consolations as seemed proper or palatable
to their hostess, who tried not to give way further to her melancholy,
and remembered that she had other duties to perform, before yielding to
her own sad mood. "It will be time enough, madam, to be sorry when they
are gone," she said to the Justice's wife, her good neighbour. "My boy
must not see me following him with a wistful face, and have our parting
made more dismal by my weakness. It is good that gentlemen of his rank
and station should show themselves where their country calls them.
That has always been the way of the Esmonds, and the same Power which
graciously preserved my dear father through twenty great battles in the
Queen's time, I trust and pray, will watch over my son now his turn
is come to do his duty." And, now, instead of lamenting her fate, or
further alluding to it, I dare say the resolute lady sate down with
her female friends to a pool of cards and a dish of coffee, whilst the
gentlemen remained in the neighbouring parlour, still calling their
toasts and drinking their wine. When one lady objected that these latter
were sitting rather long, Madam Esmond said: "It would improve and amuse
the boys to be with the English gentlemen. Such society was very rarely
to be had in their distant province, and though their conversation
sometimes was free, she was sure that gentleman and men of fashion would
have regard to the youth of her sons, and say nothing before them which
young people should not hear."

It was evident that the English gentlemen relished the good cheer
provided for them. Whilst the ladies were yet at their cards, Nathan
came in and whispered Mrs. Mountain, who at first cried out--"No! she
would give no more--the common Bordeaux they might have, and welcome,
if they still wanted more--but she would not give any more of the
Colonel's." It appeared that the dozen bottl